News Articles for Australian Industry Group

Major employer organisations around the country have united to push the federal government to redraft its “poorly drafted” proposed industrial relations reforms.

Jim Chalmers says the high inflation environment is the main challenge facing the economy and his budget will reflect these price pressures.

Jobs growth in the first six months of the Albanese government has been strong and managed to outpace performance in several advanced nations.

The manufacturing sector has finally contracted after three months of flatlining, in a sign that less than favourable economic conditions are now hurting.

The Fair Work Commission has recommended a 5.2 per cent pay rise for Australia's low-paid workers, equating to an extra $40 a week.

Confidence has dropped to its lowest level since mid-August 2020 as cost of living pressures mount, not helped by an expected further rise in interest rates.

Household spending helped to prop up economic growth in the early months of this year, although there was a marked slowdown compared with the strong finish of 2021.

Manufacturing is growing at its fastest pace in almost a year, despite the constraints of skilled worker shortages and rising input prices and wages.

Consumer confidence dropped 2.6 per cent in the past week as the war in Ukraine began and storms battered Australia's east coast.

Australia's construction industry suffered a slump over December and January due to the impact of the Omicron variant, continuing the sector's volatile run over the past six months.

Payroll jobs dropped further by mid-September as coronavirus lockdowns continued to bite, and now stand below their pre-pandemic level.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has declared it is in Australia's interest to back global climate targets as he makes the economic case for a 2050 net zero emissions goal.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe says the coronavirus Delta variant outbreak has interrupted the economic recovery but not derailed it.

Businesses would do well to follow Qantas' model of requiring COVID-19 vaccinations, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe expects the Australian economy will bounce back by year's end after suffering a contraction in the September quarter.

New figures show the negative impact a series of virus lockdowns have had on both retailing and the construction industry in recent months.

Australia's resources industry has backed tougher rules to prevent workplace sexual harassment, describing its pervasiveness within mining as alarming.

Retail sales fell 1.5 per cent in Western Australia in April but merchandise exports continued to boom, hitting a record $205 billion in the previous 12 months.

Josh Frydenberg wants to drive Australia's unemployment rate below five per cent before he begins the task of budget repair, in what is a marked shift in strategy.

Josh Frydenberg has held discussions with the Reserve Bank of Australia and the prudential regulator over what is becoming a hot property market.

The Australian economy grew by 3.1 per cent in the December quarter, continuing the strong rebound from last year's recession.

A prominent business leader has joined growing calls to support struggling companies once JobKeeper payments dry up.

The economic alarm has again been sounded over climate inaction, with an environmental group warning the cost of extreme weather has more than doubled over the last 50 years.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham is leaving the door open to taking China to the World Trade Organisation over barriers to Australian goods.

The Reserve Bank board is not contemplating any further interest rate reductions after slicing the cash rate to a wafer thin 0.1 per cent.

A jump in retail spending during the September quarter and an expanding construction sector are further signs that the economy is on the mend.

Banks will pass on as much relief to customers as they can should the Reserve Bank board cut its key interest rates on Tuesday, the peak industry body says.

Employers and unions have backed Victoria's plan to lift coronavirus economic clamps as thousands of Melburnians prepare to return to work.

Scott Morrison has defended a federal budget scheme to give bosses weekly cash payments to employ people aged under 35.

Western Australia's job vacancies hit an eight-year high after soaring 91 per cent in recent months, as the state rebounds from COVID-induced restrictions.

Australian manufacturers across six priority areas will receive more help to expand in high-value areas through an almost $1.5 billion budget boost.

The coronavirus pandemic and deepest recession since the 1930s has turned a forecast $5 billion federal budget surplus into an $85.3 billion deficit.

Businesses no longer eligible for wage subsidies will retain emergency powers to change workers' conditions if turnover is down 10 per cent.

Are litigation funders a danger to the Australian economy or an important pillar that improves access to justice?

China has ignored Australia's attempts to discuss trade tensions over beef and barley imports, and state governments fear they could become the meat in the sandwich as the trade tangle heats up.

New vehicle sales in Western Australia fell 2 per cent last month and 5.4 per cent during 2019, with national sales crashing to their lowest since 2011.

Australia's poorest workers will be guaranteed a living wage under a federal Labor government but business groups warn it will put jobs at risk.

The federal government today launched a new wage subsidy trial targeting apprenticeships in rural and regional areas, which will invest $60 million across a range of trades

Unions have blasted Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O'Dwyer's decision to intervene in a potentially landmark court case about casual workers' pay and leave entitlements.

The Fair Work Commission has delivered a 3.5 per cent increase to the minimum wage as part of its annual review.